Category: Trap Five

Why Tiger Will Remain Number One

The buzz says Phil Mickelson can take the top spot in the World Golf Rankings. Wishful thinking says Ernie Els can. Is it really an achievable goal?

Trap Five LogoThe minute Phil Mickelson or any other big-name player wins a tournament – any tournament – the media is abuzz with questions whether or not that player can overtake Tiger Woods in the World Golf Rankings.

While Phil has probably exceeded his short-range goals with swing-coach Butch Harmon, there remain many obstacles between Phil and the number-one ranking. Outside of Phil Mickelson there is nobody who seems to have the consistency to challenge Woods week in and week out. While there is a ton of potential on Tour, potential does not a winner make.

Here’s my best stab at why Tiger is a lock as the world number one for a long time to come…

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The Players is Not a Major

The Players is not a major. It’s almost a tautology – it isn’t because it isn’t – but this week we attempt to quantify exactly why The Players is not a major.

Trap Five LogoThis week, golf fans are getting an earful about “The Players.” They’re hearing what a great course it’s played at, what a great field it has, and how it’s just the teeniest bit shorter in stature than those “other” majors: The Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship.

This week we’re going to investigate the top five reasons why “The Players” is not (and likely never will be) a major.

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Slow Play Cures

What would it take for American brand golf to speed up just a little. Four hour rounds are more a fantasy than reality. Here are some suggestions.

Trap Five LogoWe were waiting on a group ahead of us last weekend and I apologized to the group behind us that we weren’t making more progress. They said it was OK, they didn’t have to be anywhere.

American golfers spend far too long waiting around to hit shots these days. While there are a few die-hards who don’t have to be anywhere soon, slow play is an inconvenience for just about everyone.

What are we going to do about it? I believe that if we as individuals start to do what we can we’ll find that others pick up what we’re doing. Don’t be afraid to gently (or not so gently if necessary) teach your foursome how to play an efficient round of golf. So, what will make a difference?

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Slow Play Causes

Ever thought how you could speed up the time it took to play a round? Avoid the following and see the length of your round go down while the enjoyment goes up.

Trap Five LogoSlow play is at an all-time high. It’s pretty tough for a guy who has a family, work, a lawn to mow, kids to raise, and a host of other responsibilities to get away for a round of golf. When you do play it’s no fun to wait on every tee and fairway to hit the next shot. Five- and six- hour rounds are a bummer and all too common.

Take a peek at some of the causes of slow play and see if you can’t turn your next slow round into a faster one by eliminating a few.

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Byron Nelson’s Best

This is the first Byron Nelson Championship without it’s namesake. Let’s take a look back at the greatest events in his storied career.

Trap Five LogoByron Nelson holds one of the most impressive records in the history of any sport. When you consider that golf is an individual not a team game it is even more remarkable.

He won with one of the most fluid easy swings in the history of the game. His compact swing became the template for future players. “The mechanics of my swing were such that it required no thought,” said Nelson. “If you have to think about your swing it takes that much away from your scoring concentration.”

And he did score. And win. Take a peek…

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Greatest Golf Courses

I’ve ranked what I believe to be the top-five greatest golf courses in existence. Put these on your “top-five courses I’d love to play” list.

Trap Five LogoRanking golf courses is a subjective exercise. Clearly, some courses are better than others, but narrowing down the very best is difficult. Like a fine bee…, er, wine, much of the decision is based on personal tastes.

Unfortunately, I’ve never played any of these courses but count it my solemn responsibility to go where only fools dare to tread. So all other ranking systems aside, here’s my choice for the greatest golf courses in the world.

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Best Golf Swings

Five of the greatest swings are on display in this week’s offering. Most of them will be remembered among the greatest champions of all time.

Trap Five LogoGolf, like fly-fishing (another sport I love), can be poetry. While we see more jerks and hacks than poems in our weekend foursomes, thankfully there are some swings worth emulating.

After some deliberation, I’ve chosen the best golf swings of all time and ranked them in order from five to one. See if you agree.

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Most Likely First-Time Major Winners in 2007

With help from several Sand Trap Forum members I’ve compiled my picks for most likely first-time major winners in 2007. See if you agree with my picks.

Trap Five LogoWe’re predictions fanatics at The Sand Trap, and this week’s installment of the Trap Five underscores this compulsion. It has been an exciting start to the season for young talent. Charley Hoffman, Aaron Baddeley, Charles Howell III, and Henrik Stenson have all, as relatively young players, won on the PGA Tour. While the number of Americans (outside of Woods, Mickelson, and Furyk) is lacking, there are plenty of current European and Australian players making history on the PGA Tour.

Besides the usual suspects vying for another slice of history there are some viable candidates for first-time major championship winners in 2007. The year has already showcased a few talented young players and odds are good that this trend will continue. Perhaps there is a Tiger-slayer in training we aren’t aware of. Perhaps one of the candidates for first time major winner below will be the one to take a title from him. Let’s take a look…

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Memorable Quotes

Professionals have become known as much for what they say as the shots they hit. It’s sometimes as satisfying to contemplate their thoughts on the game as it is to watch them create magic with a golf club.

Trap Five LogoGolf has a rich oral history. Unfortunately all we can do with the Trap Five is scratch the surface of golf’s memorable quotes. Often players and famous personalities crystalize our collective thoughts on golf well.

For every group of weekend warriors there are usually a collection of witty golf-isms thrown around. “Does your husband play,” one will say when a put comes up short, “That’s Tiger-right” for a ball way in the woods, and “He’s hit a worm-burner” for anything hit thin. Yes, my partners are so funny.

Let’s check out some quotes actually worth remembering…

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